Improvement in bee-hives



dntrdtatra @anni @Wire SYLVESTER D. BAEBEEAND JAMES WOLF, OE MATTOON,ILLINOIS, AssIGNORs TO SAID BARBER AND IIIEAM cOX, OE SAME PLAGE.

Letters .Patent No. 98,544, dated January 4, 18,70.

IMPROVEMENT IVN l BEE-RIVES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifi` cation.

Figure l represents a vertical transverse section of our improvedbee-hive. n

Figure 2 is a Vertical longitudinal section of the same. v

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements inV that kind ofbee-hives which are pointed at the bottom and The invention consists insuch an arrangement Of parts that the bees will be protected from moths,frost, and all other inconveniences generally attending ordinarybeeihives.

A, in the drawing, represents the case Or box of our improved bee-hive.

lts upper part is qnadrangnlar, while the lower part is tapering to asharp edge. It is supported on legs or support-s B, which hold it sothat the lower edge is elevated above the ground, to preventmot-hs,ants, &c., from entering vthe hive.

Where the tapering part joins the upper rectangular part, there nrelit-ted, on the inclined faces, ribs or bars a a, from which triangularframes O C are sus` pcnded, as shown.

Between every two fiames is interposed a lath Or har, D, which bars areeither slotted or made narrow in the middle, so as to leave apertures bb for the bees to pass up.

rlhe frames C and bars D are held downby means of bars c, placed overtheir ends and locked by pivoted lugs cl.

The honey-box Eis placed upon the bars D and frames C, as shown, and hasapertures in the bot-tom, corresponding with the slots b aforesaid, sothat the bees from below can enter the honey-box.

The box is or may be fastened by means ,of a bar or bars, e, fitted withthe ends into indentures, formed l in the sides of the 'box A', as shownin fig.. 2.

Opposite the glass iiontf, of the honey-box,V isv ar- 4 ranged, in thecase, A, ai folding door, g.

The cover h of the box A is also hinged.

In the vertical sides of the lower tapering box, areventilating-apertures t, closed by` means of perforated sliding platesj, and covered, if desired, by caps 7c.

The entrance for the bees is along slot, l, extending the entire lengthof the hive, near or at the conj unct-iOn of the converging Sides at thelower end.

This slot is provided with a plate or cover, F, which is pivoted to lugsm, which are, in turn, pivotedto the side of the hive.

The plate F has a small notch in its lower edge, which, when the platecloses the entrance-slot l, answers as a winter-entrance for the bees.This opening may be entirely closed by the plate o, or the latter may bereversed to cover the same with its perfhrated end, thus allowing, whenrequired, slight ventilation 'of the hive without exit of the bees.

For the purpose of preventing moth-worms from spinning their cocoons inthe joints or corners of the hive, and also the bees from waxing theframes, or starting their combs on the sides Of the same, we applysmelt-s or emery, as indicated by x, in the drawing.

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The Openingsformed in the sides of abechive, clbsed by perforated slides j and capsk, substantially as herein shown and described, to serve as ventilatorsor winter-entrances, as set forth.

2. The bee-hive, consisting of the tapering box A, suspended flames C C,slats D, honey-box E, gate F, which is pivoted to the arms m, and of theslide and cap j k, all arranged, combined, and operating substantiallyas herein shown and described.

SYLVESTER D. BARBER.

`. JAMES WOLF.

Witnesses:

HAMILTON Rona, y O. P. HARRIS.

